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Join on Telegram Rabat – In a renewed push for the long-discussed Spain-Morocco tunnel project, the Spanish government has approved nearly half a million euros to acquire seismometers for assessing earthquake risks in the Strait of Gibraltar, according to Spanish media.
This investment by Secegsa –the public company responsible for the tunnel’s feasibility studies –marks the first seismic risk assessment in the region in a decade.
Overseen by the Ministry of Transport led by Minister Oscar Puente, the project aims to create a fixed link between Europe and Africa. Secegsa’s recent contract, formalized on November 6, secures four deep-sea seismometers, capable of operating up to 6,000 meters below sea level, Vozpopuli outlet reported.
These instruments will initially be leased, with the option to purchase if they meet performance expectations, following an initial review by Spain’s Royal Institute and Naval Observatory.
Alongside seismic studies, engineering efforts for the tunnel are also advancing. Spain’s public engineering company Ineco has been tasked with preparing an updated pre-project proposal by mid-2026, added the report.
Co-funded by EU Next Generation funds, this study will build upon work carried out in 2007 by Spain’s Typsa, Morocco’s Ingema, Switzerland’s Lombardi, and Italy’s Geodata. Ineco’s updated proposal will include construction alternatives, viability assessments, safety studies, and a budget estimate to address project needs on both the Spanish and Moroccan sides of the Strait.
The project has received a notable budgetary boost under Spain’s current socialist-led government, with Secegsa receiving nearly 2.8 million euros over the past two years. In addition, European Union funding of about one million euros has been earmarked for the project up to 2026. The project received fresh political momentum earlier this year with the re-establishment of the Spanish-Moroccan Joint Committee, which hadn’t convened since 2009.
The idea for a fixed link across the Strait of Gibraltar has been discussed for decades, with both Morocco and Spain expressing interest in connecting their countries to boost economic cooperation and facilitate the movement of goods and people. The tunnel would run approximately 40 kilometers, with around 28 kilometers being underwater.
